Capital Scholars Honors Program Staff
The UIS Capital Scholars Honors Program aims to provide a challenging, interdisciplinary, educational experience in which well-qualified, motivated students gain understanding and leadership skills to engage the world.
Capital Scholars Program staff offices are located in Lincoln Residence Hall (LRH).
To learn more about the Cap Honors program, email capitalscholars@uis.edu to request a zoom meeting.
Dr. Elise LoBue
Interim Director, Clinical Assistant Professor
Capital Scholars Honors Program
Elise LoBue joined CAP Honors as an adjunct in 2012, becoming a full-time instructor in 2018. She teaches the freshman writing sequence, the capstone senior research seminar, various question courses, and a global issues class on the dissolution of the Soviet Union, inspired by her service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kazakhstan from 1996 to 1998. Elise’s scholarly interests include refugee and diaspora populations; postsocialist transitions in the former Soviet Union; interdisciplinary research and writing; diversity, equity, and inclusion pedagogy and practice; and gender studies/gender and development. Her current IRB research project involves interviewing Turkish Hizmet-affiliated political asylum seekers in Canada. Elise enjoys traveling (especially to the beach!), rearranging her garden (always room for more flowers), getting outside as often as possible (unless it is too cold…), eating dark chocolate (especially with breakfast), and hanging out with her husband and four children (when she can catch them).
Dr. Katie Carlson-Eastvold
Clinical Assistant Professor
Capital Scholars Honors Program
Email Dr. Katie Carlson-Eastvold
Katie joined CAP Honors as an Instructor in 2022. She earned her PhD in Nineteenth-Century British Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research and writing interests include Romantic and Victorian British literature, the history of childhood, and the genre of microhistory. Her first book is a work of popular nonfiction on the phenomenon of children who were bestselling authors in the nineteenth century. Katie is an avid photographer and traveler who is possessed of more hobbies than time. She lives with her brilliant husband, four charming teen stepchildren, a feisty toddler named for a Tennyson poem, and a litter-trained house rabbit with the patience of a dog.
Cortney Trencevski
Admissions Counselor, Academic Advisor
and Student Counselor to the Peer Mentoring Program
Capital Scholars Honors Program
Cortney joined the Capital Scholars Honors Program in the fall of 2015. She has a master’s degree in Human Development Counseling from UIS and a bachelor’s in Business Administration. Cortney is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois. Outside of the office, she partakes in a variety of hobbies, including volunteering, listening to podcasts, health and wellness, and traveling.
Patti Young
Business Administrative Associate
Capital Scholars Honors Program
Patti has been with UIS since May 2011. She joined the Capital Scholars Honors Program in the fall of 2019. Patti holds a bachelor’s in Business Administration and Marketing. Outside the office, she enjoys taking classes at UIS to further her education, reading Danielle Steel books, cheering on the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears, watching NASCAR and spending time with her granddaughter.
Francisco Benedetto
TA for CAP 111 and 115
Capital Scholars Honors Program
Francisco Benedetto is a graduate student in the History Department, studying European and World History. Originally from Southern California, he graduated from the University of Oregon with degrees in English and History. He plans to teach high school history after graduation and hopefully return for a Ph.D. someday. His main hobbies include reading, creative writing, running, playing music, and entertaining his two cats at home.
Emily Lupi
Student Worker
Capital Scholars Honors Program
Emily is a CAP Student Office worker who recently joined the program in the fall of 2023. She is a sophomore in the CAP Honors Program, double-majoring in Political Science and Communication. Emily is also a CAP Mentor and Writing Studio Tutor. Within her major, Emily wants to pursue political research and journalism. Outside of the office, Emily loves to read, spend time with her roommates and can be found walking around campus and chatting with friends!
Josie Millard
Grad Assistant for CAP Peer Mentoring
Capital Scholars Honors Program
Josie graduated from University of Illinois at Springfield with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and is currently attending graduate school here at UIS to obtain her Master's degree in the Human Development Counseling Program! Josie has two dogs she absolutely loves, and who think they are small (when really they are about 65 pounds). She loves to read, watch movies and spend time with her friends and family.